Find out more about worldbuilding in science fiction and fantasy with fiction editor and book coach Andy Hodges.

Listen to find out more about

• What is worldbuilding?
• How is worldbuilding different from setting?
• Common problems with worldbuilding that writers face
• How to improve worldbuilding skills
• Portraying invented groups and cultures with sensitivity
• Resources and training on worldbuilding for editors and writers

Resources mentioned in the show

• Andy Hodges/The Narrative Craft: www.thenarrativecraft.com/
• Cultural Worldbuilding in Your SFF Novel (online course by Andy Hodges): www.thenarrativecraft.com/courses-for-science-fiction-writers
• Hollow World (book), Michael J Sullivan
• Editing fiction: Worldbuilding (blog post): blog.ciep.uk/editing-fiction-worldbuilding/
• Editing 'unearned writing' (The Editing Podcast, with guest Tim Storm): https://theeditingpodcast.captivate.fm/episode/editing-unearned-writing/
• Working with Indie Authors (online course by Tanya Gold): tanyagold.com/editors/courses-for-editors/

Sign up for alerts about our publications

Want to hone your editorial business skills? Our actionable guides and workbooks will help you plan and implement a programme for business growth and development.

Sign up for alerts and we'll let you know when our publications are live and how to order:

• https://view.flodesk.com/pages/646bf79c644615ff2d1ada1a

Support The Editing Podcast

Tip your hosts: Support Louise and Denise with a one-off tip of your choosing.

• theeditingpodcast.captivate.fm/support

Join our Patreon community: Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes.

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

'Vivacity’ by Kevin MacLeod

• Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacity
• Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Discover how editors and proofreaders can use text generative AI as a business tool that enhances marketing, increases productivity and reduces stress.

Listen to find out more about

• Simplifying complex information
• Creating content ideas for business marketing
• Generating outlines for editorial marketers who lack writing confidence
• Keyword and keyphrase research
• Suggesting compelling calls to action for a website

Sign up for alerts about our publications

Want to hone your editorial business skills? Our actionable guides and workbooks will help you plan and implement a programme for business growth and development.

Sign up for alerts and we'll let you know when our publications are live and how to order:

• https://view.flodesk.com/pages/646bf79c644615ff2d1ada1a

Support The Editing Podcast

Tip your hosts: Support Louise and Denise with a one-off tip of your choosing.

• theeditingpodcast.captivate.fm/support

Join our Patreon community: Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes.

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

'Vivacity’ by Kevin MacLeod

• Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacity
• Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Find out what proofreading markup symbols are and why they're still relevant to professional practice.

Listen to find out more about

• What are proofreading markup symbols?
• BSI standards and other national guidelines
• Is proofreading markup language still relevant to training?
• Communicating efficiently and unambiguously
• Relevance to proofreaders-in-training who want to work with indie authors
• Markup colour: What do the differences mean?
• Other ways of marking up digital texts

Resources

• Courses: https://denisecowleeditorial.com/training/
• Digital markup stamps: https://www.louiseharnbyproofreader.com/blog/free-downloadable-pdf-proofreading-stamps

Sign up for alerts about our publications

Want to hone your editorial business skills? Our actionable guides and workbooks will help you plan and implement a programme for business growth and development.

Sign up for alerts and we'll let you know when our publications are live and how to order:

• https://view.flodesk.com/pages/646bf79c644615ff2d1ada1a

Support The Editing Podcast

Tip your hosts: Support Louise and Denise with a one-off tip of your choosing.

• theeditingpodcast.captivate.fm/support

Join our Patreon community: Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes.

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

'Vivacity’ by Kevin MacLeod

• Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacity
• Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Louise and Denise discuss three ideas that help editors and proofreaders develop or enhance an editorial business mindset.

Listen to find out more about

• Aim to make progress instead of achieving perfection.
• Develop a money mindset that focuses on ownership and growth.
• Decide what your goals are and stick to them.

Sign up for alerts about our publications

Want to hone your editorial business skills? Our actionable guides and workbooks will help you plan and implement a programme for business growth and development.

Sign up for alerts and we'll let you know when our publications are live and how to order:

• https://view.flodesk.com/pages/646bf79c644615ff2d1ada1a

Support The Editing Podcast

Tip your hosts: Support Louise and Denise with a one-off tip of your choosing.

• theeditingpodcast.captivate.fm/support

Join our Patreon community: Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes.

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

'Vivacity’ by Kevin MacLeod

• Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacity
• Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We talk about tips to manage your editorial business life when the schedule feels just a little bit too hectic!

Listen to find out more about

• Is the problem short term or long term?
• Identifying what absolutely must get done
• Extending a deadline: When to ask, how long to ask for, and what's realistic
• Seasonal overbusyness and clearing your schedule
• What does 'fully booked' mean to you?
• Brainstorming long-term solutions with a friend
• Introducing efficiencies
• Outsourcing business tasks
• Adjusting your schedule
• Cancelling editing work: A last resort

Sign up for alerts about our publications

Want to hone your editorial business skills? Our actionable guides and workbooks will help you plan and implement a programme for business growth and development.

Sign up for alerts and we'll let you know when our publications are live and how to order:

• https://view.flodesk.com/pages/646bf79c644615ff2d1ada1a

Support The Editing Podcast

Tip your hosts: Support Louise and Denise with a one-off tip of your choosing.

• theeditingpodcast.captivate.fm/support

Join our Patreon community: Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes.

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

'Vivacity’ by Kevin MacLeod

• Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacity
• Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Thinking about saying goodbye to an editing client? Here's what to consider before you jump ship.

Listen to find out more about

• when the client’s budget means the rate doesn’t work
• when the client pays late
• when the client’s terms of service have changed
• shifting your editorial brand
• the client’s expectations regarding an editorial service feel like scope creep
• the impact on your schedule and income if you say goodbye
• transitioning away more gradually
• renegotiating the terms
• when the work makes you unhappy
• tips on how to say goodbye

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

'Vivacity’ by Kevin MacLeod

• Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacity
• Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

When is a price for editing work too low or unfair? And do those terms even make sense universally?

Listen to find out more about

• The narrative of the universally acceptable price and why it's problematic
• Why every editor needs to do the maths
• Understanding your own needs and wants
• How everyone has a budget that works for them and them only
• Why a lower fee doesn't necessarily equal an intention to exploit
• How location and circumstances affect what's acceptable
• The limitations of other editors' advice
• The power of open conversations about pricing

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

'Vivacity’ by Kevin MacLeod

• Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacity
• Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Louise and Denise discuss 5 more tools that will help any editor or proofreader work more efficiently.

Listen to find out more about

• Searchable online dictionaries
• Searchable online style guides
• Templates
• Styles palette in Word
• Wildcards, and find and replace in Microsoft Word

Resources mentioned in the show

• Chicago Manual of Style: chicagomanualofstyle.org/home
• Efficient Editing: Strategies and Tactics: ciep.uk/training/choose-a-course/efficient-editing-strategies-and-tactics
• Create a template: support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-template-86a1d089-5ae2-4d53-9042-1191bce57deb
• Editing in Word: Using Styles: louiseharnbyproofreader.com/editing-in-word-using-styles
• How to Write the Perfect Fiction Editorial Report: louiseharnbyproofreader.com/perfect-editorial-report
• Wildcard Cookbook for Microsoft Word: Jack Lyon
• Merriam-Webster: merriam-webster.com/dictionary
• Oxford Dictionaries: premium.oxforddictionaries.com

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

'Vivacity’ by Kevin MacLeod

• Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacity
• Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Louise and Denise discuss 5 tools that will help any editor or proofreader work more efficiently.

Listen to find out more about

• Consistency checking and style enforcement
• Text expanders
• Macros
• Social media schedulers
• Your body clock

Resources mentioned in the show

• 10 killer editing macros for writers and editors: theeditingpodcast.captivate.fm/episode/editing-macros
• Buffer: buffer.com
• Free editing macros by Paul Beverly: archivepub.co.uk/Macros.html
• How to check a novel with PerfectIt 5 and The Chicago Manual of Style: louiseharnbyproofreader.com/blog/how-to-check-a-novel-with-perfectit-5-and-the-chicago-manual-of-style
• PerfectIt: intelligentediting.com
• PhraseExpress: www.phraseexpress.com
• SmarterQueue: smarterqueue.com
• Text Expander: textexpander.com

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

'Vivacity’ by Kevin MacLeod

• Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacity
• Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We explore a manageable way of reviewing our businesses and planning for change by focusing on two key questions: What's the one thing we've done that works, and what's the one change we could make that would make life easier?

Listen to find out more about

• The one thing we've done that works
• Whether we can do more of it
• What we can learn from it
• The one change we could make that would make life easier

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

'Vivacity’ by Kevin MacLeod

• Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacity
• Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We discuss editorial humility and the question we should ask ourselves at the start of every project: Who’s the boss of the book?

Listen to find out more about

• Why the author is the boss of their book
• The kinds of changes we make
• Explaining the why of our edits
• Working with anxious authors
• Discovering the root of the author's worries
• Sample editing to reassure both parties
• Establishing the terms of service
• How editors provide services, not products
• When editors do get to be the boss
• 'Humbly, your copyeditor' (Liz Jones, Responsive Editing)

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

'Vivacity’ by Kevin MacLeod

• Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacity
• Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We discuss the 8 reference resources that we regularly dip into when we're writing and editing for business.

Listen to find out more about

• Penguin Guide to Punctuation: RL Trask
• Punctuation: A guide for editors and proofreaders: Gerard M-F Hill
• English Grammar in Use: A Self-Study Reference and Practice Book: Raymond Murphy
• Your House Style: Styling your words for maximum impact: Christina Thomas
• Troublesome Words: Bill Bryson
• Everybody Writes: Ann Handley
• Hack the Buyer Brain: Kenda Macdonald
• On Writing: Stephen King
• Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style: Benjamin Dreyer

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

'Vivacity’ by Kevin MacLeod

• Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacity
• Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Love Twitter for engaging with other editorial and language professionals? We've got one tip for you: Don't engage with content you hate.

Listen to find out more about

• How Google's algorithm works
• How X/Twitter's algorithm works
• Why tweeting about content you hate makes it more visible on X/Twitter and the web
• Why tweeting about content you hate means you're assisting the creator with marketing
• Using X/Twitter to elevate the content you love and the causes you care about

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Writing a business book? Answer these five questions to make sure you're on the right track.

Listen to find out more about

• writing regularly
• niche target audiences
• building a reader base
• authority and credibility
• timeliness considerations

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Learn 5 tips on how to show rather than tell potential clients about your editing skills and knowledge.

Listen to find out more about

• Booklets that perform like gifts
• Papers that offer authoritative analyses
• Audio that creates emotional connections
• Video that demonstrates how-to solutions
• Blog posts that make you findable

Related resources

• That White Paper Guy

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We're celebrating Episode 100 with podcasting tips for editors and proofreaders!

Listen to find out more about

• Creating an episode – what's involved
• How long podcasting takes
• Efficiency strategies
• Working with a partner
• The costs of podcasting
• Accessibility challenges

Related resources     

• Captivate (affiliate link)  
• Audacity (free audio editing software)

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We discuss some of the things we’ve learned about examining the words we use and the way we behave in shared editorial spaces.

Listen to find out more about

• Familiarising ourselves with the rules of that space
• Acknowledging that our political, professional and ideological positions are not going to be the same as everyone else’s
• Recognizing the potential diversity of our editorial spaces
• Saying hello and introducing ourselves first
• Being prepared to be challenged
• Owning our words if we're challenged
• Acknowledging that intention not to hurt doesn’t absolve us of the responsibility for that hurt.
• Being prepared to feel uncomfortable
• Accepting our privilege without getting our knickers in a knot!
• How it's for the white, cis, straight etc people to do the work

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Find out why standards are core to professional practice for any editor or proofreader who wants to be fit for purpose and trusted by clients.

Listen to find out more about

• how professional standards are defined
• why they’re important for editors and proofreaders
• who’s setting them
• the tools some organisations are using to set standards and ensure that editorial practitioners demonstrate and uphold them.

Related resources

• Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)
• List of editorial societies

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Find out why editorial conferences are worth attending for every editor and proofreader.

Listen to find out more about

• Why even experienced editors need to learn
• How to use a conference to make a contribution to the profession
• Meeting other editors
• Having fun with colleagues and friends

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Want to line edit crime fiction and thrillers? Pick up some handy tips to help you on your way.

Listen to find out more about

• What's distinctive about editing crime fiction and thrillers
• What a good line editor needs to look out for
• What new entrants to the field need to study
• Marketing ideas
• Top tips for being a successful freelance editor/proofreader
• Do fiction editors use style guides?
• Course: How to Line Edit for Suspense
• The Chicago Manual of Style for PerfectIt

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Want to become a professional proofreader? Discover 6 more key pieces of information you must know before you embark on your new career.

Listen to find out more about

• How it requires a lot of hard work to build and sustain a proofreading business
• Why having periods of no work isn’t something you have to accept as given
• Why grammar- and spell-checking technology hasn’t made proofreaders redundant
• How it’s a myth that all proofreading work is done in-house
• How proofreading means the different things to different client types
• Whether word of mouth is a good enough promotion strategy

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Want to become a professional proofreader? Discover 6 key pieces of information you must know before you embark on your new career.

Listen to find out more about

• Getting work even if you don’t have contacts in the publishing industry
• The market for proofreading
• Why training courses are a worthy and essential investment
• Why training in itself isn't enough to get work
• Why you can still build a proofreading career without former editorial experience
• What you might earn

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Discover 5 PDF proofreading tips you can apply when working with Adobe Reader DC.

Listen to find out more about

• Rotating the page view
• Using the ‘Show Cover View in Two Page View’ function
• Attaching a Word file for large amounts of corrected text
• Why you should avoid using ‘floating’ sticky notes
• How to find invisible errors you know you’ve corrected
• Free versus paid-for software: Is Adobe Reader DC good enough for PDF proofreading?
• Course: How to Mark Up PDF Page Proofs

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We explore the term ‘OCD’ and why it has no place as a marker of attention to detail for the professional editor.

Listen to find out more about

• The difference between character traits of orderliness and the lived experience of OCD
• What is OCD and how does it affect people?
• Why OCD is a noun and what that means for how we use the term
• How OCD might manifest
• How flippant and colloquial references to OCD diminish lived experience
• Intention versus perception of harm
• Editing text: querying rather than prescribing problems and solutions
• Does fiction offer more scope for use of harmful language?
• Alternative words and phrases
• Helping clients create engaging rather than distracting messages

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Should editors be interrogating the language of illness? We chat with Louise Bolotin about challenging normative narratives around cancer and terminal illness.

Listen to find out more about

• Louise Bolotin's cancer diagnosis
• Why the language preferences of those with terminal illnesses aren't homogenous
• Terms in the language of illness that can hurt and harm
• Why editors have a duty to challenge normative narratives that sugarcoat dying and death
• How asking how a person wants to talk about terminal illness is better than assuming

Note: Louise Bolotin died in 2022. We're grateful for the time she gave us on this podcast.

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Want to add subediting to your editorial skillset? Louise Bolotin subbed for 17 years before her death in 2022 and knew the job inside out. In this episode, she shares her knowledge and experience. Listen to find out more about:

• What the different types of editors do in media publishing
• The differences between subediting and copyediting
• Editorial timescales for subeditors
• Who controls the content
• When things go wrong - legal responsibilities and insurance
• Subediting lingo
• A subeditor’s typical day
• Transferring from copyediting to subediting - training and CPD
• Core resources for the budding subber
• How editing has changed over the years, especially for freelancers

Resources mentioned in the show

• McNae's Essential Law for Journalists, 25th edition
• National Council for the Training of Journalists
• Subediting: London School of Journalism course
• Practical English Usage, 4th edition (Michael Swan)

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Want to know more about editing academic book proposals? Laura Portwood-Stacer discusses what it involves and how to develop your skills.

Listen to find out more about

• What is an academic book proposal?
• How and why editors can get involved
• The types of work and the kinds of editing editors carry out
• How academic book proposals differ from other types of book proposals
• Who evaluates academic book proposals and what they're looking for
• The key elements of an academic book proposal
• Which elements authors typically need most help with
• The contextual information editors need to gather from an author
• How editors can learn about this type of work: The Book Proposal Book

Find out more about Laura Portwood-Stacer

• Contact Laura: manuscriptworks.com and lauraportwoodstacer.com
• Read The Book Proposal Book: manuscriptworks.com/book
• Train as an academic developmental editor: courses.manuscriptworks.com
• 10% discount coupon for course: EDITINGPODCAST

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Think proofreading or editing would be a good side hustle? Two professional editors tell you what you need to know so you don't make mistakes.

Listen to find out more about

• What a side hustle is and why it's popular
• Why there's resistance to the term 'side hustle' in the professional editorial community
• Whether an editorial business can be set up overnight
• The importance of skilling up and marketing
• The competition side hustlers have to deal with
• The different levels of editing
• How to find work
• Business-critical considerations

Join our Patreon community

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Want to know more about academic developmental editing? Laura Portwood-Stacer discusses what it involves and how to develop your skills.

Listen to find out more about

• What is academic developmental editing?
• Required skills and background
• Why academic authors seek help from developmental editors
• What do academic developmental editors do?
• Why it's different from other types of non-fiction editing
• The benefits to editors of offering an academic developmental editing service
• How academic developmental editors find clients
• Training and resources for academic developmental editors

Find out more about Laura Portwood-Stacer

• Contact Laura: manuscriptworks.com and lauraportwoodstacer.com
• Read The Book Proposal Book: manuscriptworks.com/book
• Train as an academic developmental editor: courses.manuscriptworks.com
• 10% discount coupon for course: EDITINGPODCAST

Join our Patreon community

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Thinking about writing a book for editors and proofreaders? Find out how Brittany Dowdle and Linda Ruggeri navigated their authorial collaboration.

Listen to find out more about

• Networking for Freelance Editors: Intended readership
• Challenging assumptions about networking
• Why write a book?
• Writing for editors: The burden of scrutiny
• Co-authorship: Syncing schedules
• Working efficiently and productively
• The power of collaboration
• The importance of trust in a writing partnership
• Book-creation process: Beyond writing
• Tips for editors who want to write a book

Useful links and resources

• Find out more about the book: Networking for Freelance Editors
• The Networking for Freelance Editors website
• FREE downloadable networking worksheets
• Contact Brittany Dowdle
• Contact Linda Ruggeri

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Find out why you need a website if you want your editing or proofreading business to be visible and verifiable.

Listen to find out more about

• Why you need a website even if you work only with publishers and packagers
• Why editorial directories aren't enough
• Why word of mouth has limitations
• How clients use websites for quality control
• Why a website future-proofs your business
• Current audience expectations around professionalism
• Websites versus social media presence
• Controlling your own land
• Creating a branded digital space
• Competing with colleagues who have websites

Join our Patreon community

Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for all episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. If you'd like to support The Editing Podcast, join our Patreon community!

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Learn about the power of networking with Brittany Dowdle and Linda Ruggeri, two professional editors who've honed the art of building relationships and exchanging ideas to grow their businesses.

Listen to find out more about

• Networking for Freelance Editors (book)
• Personality types and networking
• Positive outcomes from networking
• Organic vs salesy approaches to networking
• The power of volunteering
• Top tips for networking

Useful links and resources

• Find out more about the book: Networking for Freelance Editors
• The Networking for Freelance Editors website
• FREE downloadable networking worksheets
• Contact Brittany Dowdle
• Contact Linda Ruggeri
• EFA Diversity Initiative
• Writer’s Digest

Join our Patreon community

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Discover 3 actions you can take to improve the design of your editorial website and that can be implemented within only 24 hours.

Listen to find out more about

• Navigation buttons
• Paragraph headings
• ​Short paragraphs
• How to support The Editing Podcast via Patreon

Join our Patreon community

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Improve your understanding of microaggressions during the editing process and how to serve your author well regardless of your own identity and lived experience.

Listen to find out more about

• What microaggressions are
• Microaggressions in editing 
• Why microaggressions occur during the editing process
• How microaggressions affect writers
• Why it's important for editors to know about microaggressions
• How editors can avoid doing this type of harm in their work
• How editors can learn about what they don’t know

Resources and links

• Conscious Style Guide
• Crystal Shelley, Rabbit with a Red Pen       
• Fuhrmann, Henry, ‘Drop the hyphen in Asian American’, Conscious Style Guide, 2018
• King, Ruth, Mindful of Race: Understanding and Transforming Habits of Harm: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out, Sounds True Inc, 2018

Join our Patreon community

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Learn about 5 things you can do to give your editing and proofreading business a new-year polish.

Listen to find out more about

• Be the editor who says, 'It's down to me.'
• Review what changes you can make to your business.
• How to measure your editorial-business success fairly.
• Organizational tips to help you track, plan and schedule.
• Creating templates and resources that will save you time.
• How to support The Editing Podcast via Patreon

Join our Patreon community

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Find out about our new broadcasting schedule, and how you can join our community and access exclusive quarterly live Q&As with Louise and Denise.

Listen to find out more about

• Our new fortnightly broadcasting schedule
• Some stupendous stats about our audience
• Episode topics for January 2022
• How to support The Editing Podcast via Patreon

Join our Patreon community

• patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Subversive copy editor Carol Saller offers some top tips on blogging for editors, proofreaders and writers!

Listen to find out more about

• In #1: Carol's blogging journey: The Subversive Copy Editor blog; Lingua Franca (for the Chronicle of Higher Education); Editor's Corner (for The Chicago Manual of Style); Fiction+ (for The Chicago Manual of Style)
• In #1: Blogging goals
• In #1: Coming up with ideas: two tips
• In #1: Blog promotion strategies
• In #2: Repurposing blog content
• In #2: Analytics, and how to avoid the rabbit hole
• In #3: Monetizing your blog
• In #3: Understanding the sales funnel
• In #3: Managing reader engagement
• In #3: Blogging trajectory: Deciding who to write for and when to stop

Useful resources

• About Carol Saller
• Blogging for Business Growth (course)
• 'Blogging for writers' (Jane Friedman)
• But Can I Start a Sentence with “But”? (University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff)
• Content Chemistry (Andy Crestodina)
• 'Getting the Most from LinkedIn' (YouTube tutorial)
• 'Google Analytics Tutorial 2021 – Learn Google Analytics 4 (GA4) & Universal Analytics Step-By-Step'
• How to Build an Editorial Blog (book)
• 'How to promote your blog' (Blogging Wizard)

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Subversive copy editor Carol Saller offers some top tips on blogging for editors, proofreaders and writers!

Listen to find out more about

• In #1: Carol's blogging journey: The Subversive Copy Editor blog; Lingua Franca (for the Chronicle of Higher Education); Editor's Corner (for The Chicago Manual of Style); Fiction+ (for The Chicago Manual of Style)
• In #1: Blogging goals
• In #1: Coming up with ideas: two tips
• In #1: Blog promotion strategies
• In #2: Repurposing blog content
• In #2: Analytics, and how to avoid the rabbit hole
• In #3: Monetizing your blog
• In #3: Understanding the sales funnel
• In #3: Managing reader engagement
• In #3: Blogging trajectory: Deciding who to write for and when to stop

Useful resources

• About Carol Saller
• Blogging for Business Growth (course)
• 'Blogging for writers' (Jane Friedman)
• But Can I Start a Sentence with “But”? (University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff)
• Content Chemistry (Andy Crestodina)
• 'Getting the Most from LinkedIn' (YouTube tutorial)
• 'Google Analytics Tutorial 2021 – Learn Google Analytics 4 (GA4) & Universal Analytics Step-By-Step'
• How to Build an Editorial Blog (book)
• 'How to promote your blog' (Blogging Wizard)

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Subversive copy editor Carol Saller offers some top tips on blogging for editors, proofreaders and writers!

Listen to find out more about

• In #1: Carol's blogging journey: The Subversive Copy Editor blog; Lingua Franca (for the Chronicle of Higher Education); Editor's Corner (for The Chicago Manual of Style); Fiction+ (for The Chicago Manual of Style)
• In #1: Blogging goals
• In #1: Coming up with ideas: two tips
• In #1: Blog promotion strategies
• In #2: Repurposing blog content
• In #2: Analytics, and how to avoid the rabbit hole
• In #3: Monetizing your blog
• In #3: Understanding the sales funnel
• In #3: Managing reader engagement
• In #3: Blogging trajectory: Deciding who to write for and when to stop

Useful resources

• About Carol Saller
• Blogging for Business Growth (course)
• 'Blogging for writers' (Jane Friedman)
• But Can I Start a Sentence with “But”? (University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff)
• Content Chemistry (Andy Crestodina)
• 'Getting the Most from LinkedIn' (YouTube tutorial)
• 'Google Analytics Tutorial 2021 – Learn Google Analytics 4 (GA4) & Universal Analytics Step-By-Step'
• How to Build an Editorial Blog (book)
• 'How to promote your blog' (Blogging Wizard)

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Learn about romance editing with specialist editor Sarah Calfee.

Listen to find out more about

• What's special about romance editing
• The size of the market
• Tropes, challenges and styles in romance editing
• HEAs: Happy ever afters
• Romancelandia
• Understanding the romance writing and editing via Pride and Prejudice
• How to get in touch with Sarah Calfee
• Get a free sample of Sarah's book, How To Pride and Prejudice

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Find out about 4 key things you need to know if you want to become a non-fiction editor.

Listen to find out more about

• The main types of non-fiction editing and the kinds of things a non-fic editor needs to look out for   
• Working on complex materials     
• The move to digital content and the role of the editor·     
• Ethical issues the editor or proofreader needs to be aware of

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Denise's course

How to Mark Up PDF Page Proofs: https://courses.denisecowleeditorial.com/product/how-to-mark-up-pdf/

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Find out about 4 key things you need to know if you want to become a fiction editor.

Listen to find out more about

• The main types of fiction editing and the kinds of things a fiction editor needs to look out for
• What additional training you might need
• The market and client expectations
• The need for a flexible hand
• How to become a fiction editor (booklet): harnby.co/become-a-fiction-editor
• Switching to Fiction (course): harnby.co/switching-to-fiction

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Find out more about The Chicago Manual of Style for PerfectIt. Developer Daniel Heuman talks with Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle about the union of a 115-year-old style guide and advanced copyediting software technology, and how it will help you edit faster and better.

Listen to find out more about

• What is The Chicago Manual of Style for PerfectIt?
• How much it costs
• How the union came about
• Full integration of CMOS into PerfectIt 5
• Why it's free to subscribers of both products
• What PerfectIt can and can't do
• Working with the CMOS team
• Favourite features that help editors learn
• Why CMOS is a style guide rather than a rule book
• How users can suggest additions
• Customizing the CMOS style sheet
• The Mac-user experience
• Accessing The Chicago Manual of Style for PerfectIt

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Find out what editorial style is, why it’s important, and how editors work to create, evaluate and enforce style.

Listen to find out more about

• What is style?
• The differences between rules, preferences and conventions
• Flexibility in fiction and non-fiction
• What is a style guide?
• Why style guides aren't rule books
• When editors need to respect tone, register, voice and brand identity
• What is a style sheet?

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Learn about why editing and proofreading training is necessary if you want to run a professional editorial practice. Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk skills!

Listen to find out more about

• The client's perspective
• Doing the job to industry-recognized standards
• The marketing benefits for the editor and proofreader
• How training forges a healthy business mindset

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Find out how to choose a name for your editing or proofreading business with Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle.

Listen to find out more about

• Brainstorming a list of possible business names
• Considering your target clients
• Identifying your core brand values
• Using a business name to tell the client what's on offer
• Checking the name is available
• Does the name reflect your brand identity?
• How findable and SEO-friendly is the name?
• Will the name stand the test of time?

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Even if you don't specialize in your editorial practice, it's still worth using the language of specialism in your marketing. That's what Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle are chatting about in this episode of The Editing Podcast.

Listen To Find Out More About

• The different ways in which we might specialize
• Helping clients understand how we can help them
• What does the client want to know?
• Why saying we can edit 'everything' is a weak message
• Why the language of specialization is interesting

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk about 2 more zombie rules that have no place in a professional editor's toolbox.

Listen To Find Out More About

• What a zombie rule is
• The power of a double negative in rich narrative and dialogue
• Why singular 'they' is a grammatically correct gender-neutral pronoun

Mentioned in the show

• Welcome, singular “they”: Lee, C. (2019, October 31). Welcome, singular “they”. APA Style. http://apastyle.apa.org/blog/singular-they

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle share 3 more tips about how to beat the overwhelm that can come with making your editing and proofreading business visible.

Listen To Find Out More About

• Why everyone has something to shout about, even if they think they don't
• Why some editors appear to do more marketing than is humanly possible, and why that shouldn't deter you
• The tricks those busy editorial marketers have up their sleeve and how you can mimic them
• Managing marketing by thinking in ones

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk to Rich Leder about writing screenplays and novels. Rich has worked with some of the biggest names in the movie industry. He shares what he's learned about Hollywood, TV and novel craft.

Listen To Find Out More About

• The differences between writing a screenplay and novel from scratch
• Cooking for Cannibals: Being edited and receiving feedback
• Converting film to novel, or novel to film
• Primal, and why Nicolas Cage makes the perfect Frank Walsh
• Stage direction during the screenplay-writing stage
• Character descriptions, noise and environment, and writing a screenplay
• How does the editing process differ for screenplays and novels?
• How much is the author involved in the making of the movie?
• How long does it take to get a movie made? From treatment to option to production
• Impactful career moments, including how working with Sidney Poitier changed his life

Author Bio

Rich Leder Novelist - Screenwriter

Rich Leder has been a working writer for more than three decades. His credits include 19 produced movies—television films for CBS, Lifetime, and Hallmark and feature films for Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures, Tri-Star Pictures, Longridge Productions, and Left Bank Films—and six novels for Laugh Riot Press.

He’s been the lead singer in a Detroit rock band, a restaurateur, a Little League coach, an indie film director, a literacy tutor, a magazine editor, a screenwriting coach, a wedding guru, a PTA board member, a commercial real estate agent, and a visiting artist for the UNCW Film Studies Department, among other things, all of which, it turns out, was grist for the mill.

He resides on the North Carolina coast with his awesome wife, Lulu, and is sustained by the visits home of their three fabulous children. 

Cooking for Cannibals Blurb: 

Fountain of youth? More like murderous medication!

Carrie Cromer pushes the boundaries of science, not her social life. The brilliant behavioral gerontologist’s idea of a good time is hanging out with her beloved lab rats and taking care of her elderly mother and the other eccentric old folks at the nursing home. So no one is more surprised than Carrie when she steals the lab’s top-secret, experimental medicine for aging in reverse.

Two-time ex-con Johnny Fairfax dreams of culinary greatness. But when his corrupt parole officer tries to drag him from the nursing home kitchen, the suddenly young-again residents spring to his defense and murder the guy—and then request Johnny cook them an evidence-devouring dinner to satisfy their insatiable side-effect appetite.

As their unexpected mutual attraction gets hot, Carrie and Johnny find themselves caught up with the authorities who arrive to investigate the killing. But even more dangerous than the man-eating not-so-senior citizens could be the arrival of death-dealing pharmaceutical hitmen.

Can Carrie and Johnny find true love in all this bloody madness?

LINKS: 

• Website 
• Amazon 
• Good Reads
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Pre-order Cooking for Cannibals here

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk about editing short-form content such as newsletters, letters, blog posts, short stories, essays and reports.

Listen To Find Out More About

• The different types of content that fall into the short-form category
• The benefits and challenges of short-form content editing
• Advice on the remit: client expectations, the brief, ethical issues and practical responsibilities
• Consistency and style
• Scheduling issues
• Pricing
• Marketing

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk about accountability groups, and how they can help editors and other freelance editorial professionals emotionally and practically.

Listen To Find Out More About

• Taking plans beyond the planning stage
• How an accountability group can help you
• How you set one up.
• How many people to include in a group
• How often an accountability group meets
• Online or in-person works
• How long a meeting should be
• What tools are useful
• What you might contribute
• Accountability and what can go wrong

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk to editor Crystal Shelley about sensitivity (authenticity) reading.

Listen To Find Out More About

• What is sensitivity reading?
• What types of topics do people read for?
• What does the sensitivity reading process look like?
• Why should an author hire a sensitivity reader?
• What type of feedback does a sensitivity reader give?
• How does someone become a sensitivity reader?
• Some authors are hesitant to work with a sensitivity reader because there's concern about censorship or having books pulled. How do you address those concerns?
• Is sensitivity reading only useful for fiction? 
• How do authors find sensitivity readers?

You can find out more about Crystal at Rabbit with a Red Pen: rabbitwitharedpen.com

Mentioned in the Show

• Find a sensitivity reader: Binders for Sensitivity Readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2263914640530111
• Conscious Style Guide: https://consciousstyleguide.com/
• Editors of Color: https://editorsofcolor.com/

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle discuss marketing for editors and proofreaders, and offer 3 tips on how to overcome the fear.

Listen To Find Out More About

• Giving yourself permission to be an imperfect marketer
• Concentrating on your own marketing rather than comparing yourself with everyone else
• Following your own path and developing a strategy that’s appropriate for you, even if other people are doing things differently

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk to thriller writer Andy Maslen about the creative-writing process.

Listen To Find Out More About

• Writing a series vs standalone novels
• Tips on developing a coherent series
• Starting afresh with a new set of characters in a new environment
• Top creative-writing tips for beginner author
• Recommended writing-craft resources
• Back-cover blurb and Amazon blurbs
• Cover design
• Andy Maslen: andymaslen.com

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk to author David Unger about transforming a novel from print to audio.

Listen To Find Out More About

• Doing your own narration vs hiring a pro
• How to find a professional voice artist
• Which qualities are important
• The process of working with a professional narrator
• Obstacles to creating audio books
• Costs and time frame
• David Unger: davidungerphd.com

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk to mystery writer David Unger about story creation and revision.

Listen To Find Out More About

• What made David want to start writing and who inspired him
• Writing an alter ego
• The revision process
• On being edited
• David Unger: davidungerphd.com

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk about zombie rules, and why they have no place in a professional editor's toolbox.

Listen To Find Out More About

• What a zombie rule is
• Why split infinitives are not grammatically problematic
• Why it's okay to start a sentence with a conjunction

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise Harnby and Denise Cowle talk about why audio is such a great medium for editors who want to build brand trust and grow their businesses.

Listen to find out more about

• The popularity of audio content
• Stability during playback
• Native hosting on websites
• Voices as unique brand identifiers and trust builders
• Audio as an accessibility tool that allows communication with a diverse audience
• Why it's a less intimidating option than video
• The kit you need
• Options for recording, editing and hosting
• Editorial goals, and how audio helps us achieve them

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
• Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise and Denise talk to Barry Award-nominated thriller writer John A. Connell about moving from Berkley (Penguin USA) to independent publishing.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• Being a Hollywood camera operator ... Jurassic Park, Thelma and Louise, and NYPD Blue
• Getting a publishing contract with a major press
• The Mason Collins series
• When publishers are no longer invested
• Moving to independent publishing
• Clawing back book rights
• Using movie experience to craft a novel's scene
• Beyond writing: what indie publishers need to do
• Challenges and benefits of indie publishing
• Being edited
• Useful organizations
• Writing a series versus standalone novels
• Future projects

Top tips from John

• Build a mailing list
• Offer a free short story or novella
• Develop a series
• Use Facebook ads
• Craft a great website
• Engage with your audience
• Get your business head on
• Invest in appropriate editing

Contacting John A. Connell

Subscribe to John's newsletter and get a free book:

• Website: John A Connell: Gripping Thrillers With a Historical Twist
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook author page
• John's books on Amazon US and UK

Editing Bites And Other Resources

• Stephen King (video): Masterclass, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 2012
• Joanna Penn: Video marketing for authors
• Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing Formula
• International Thriller Writers
• Mystery Writers of America
• Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing Formula

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Louise and Denise chat with Brunella Costagliola, a specialist military writer and editor, about what makes a compelling military story.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• What makes a good military book
• Style guides for editing military books
• Common problems authors face when writing military books
• Fact-checking resources for military writers

Contacting Brunella Costagliola

• Email: [email protected]
• Web: www.themilitaryeditor.com
• Facebook: @themilitaryeditor
• Reserve+ National Guard Magazine
• Military Families Magazine
• My Dad Got Hurt. What Can I Do? Helping Military Children Cope with a Brain-Injured Parent, Brunella Costagliola

Editing Bites and Other Resources

• Forensics: The Anatomy of Crime, Val McDermid’s, Wellcome Collection, 2015
• Research tools for crime and thriller writers (blog post)
• Consulting Cops (UK consultancy firm for writers)
• The Art of Firearms in Fiction is a free 45-page primer featuring Steve Allen, a soldier-turned-editor who specializes in military particulars, with additional material from Aden Nichols, an editor and Special Forces veteran.

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Louise and Denise talk with fellow editor Maya Berger about editing erotic fiction.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• Does adult fiction need editing?
• Sorting out the language: pornography versus erotica
• Editing in your comfort zone
• Common problems authors struggle with
• Sub-genres and good-fit editing
• Evaluating an author's work

Contacting Maya Berger

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: What I Mean To Say
• Blog
• Twitter: @MayaBerger
• LinkedIn
• Maya in the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)'s Directory of Editorial Services
• 'Editing Erotica FAQ' (CIEP blog post)

Editing Bites And Other Resources

• The Book Designer
• The Hot Copy Podcast

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise discuss the growth of audio in the book world, and how using sound creates reader engagement and helps build a fan base.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• Narrating a sample chapter
• Creating free audio content that's usable
• Host a live sound event
• Broadcast an interview
• Encouraging sign-ups with your voice
• Starting a podcast
• Captivate: podcast hosting, stats and audience growth

Editing Bites and other resources

• Write to be Published, Nicola Morgan, Snowbooks, 2011
• Twitter chat #indieauthorchat hosted by Tim Lewis
• Captivate
• Libsyn
• Soundcloud
• Music Visualisation Video Creator
• Audio-book Production (free booklet)
• ‘How to turn YouTube subtitles into blog posts and transcripts’ (blog post and video tutorial)
• Cleanfeed
• Zoom

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Listen to find out more about:

• Narrating a sample chapter
• Creating free audio content that's usable
• Host a live sound event
• Broadcast an interview
• Encouraging sign-ups with your voice
• Starting a podcast
• Captivate: podcast hosting, stats and audience growth

Editing bites and other resources

• Write to be Published, Nicola Morgan, Snowbooks, 2011
• Twitter chat #indieauthorchat hosted by Tim Lewis
• Captivate
• Libsyn
• Soundcloud
• Music Visualisation Video Creator
• Audio-book Production (free booklet)
• ‘How to turn YouTube subtitles into blog posts and transcripts’ (blog post and video tutorial)
• Cleanfeed
• Zoom

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise and Denise discuss whether working with a specialist editor is necessary for all books and every type of editing.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• Fiction versus non-fiction
• The type of editing
• Subject/genre

Editing bites and other resources

• Storycraft: The Complete Guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing), Jack Hart
• ‘The Secrets of Story Structure’, KM Weiland
• The Editing Podcast, S1E1: The different levels of editing
• Switching to Fiction (online course for aspiring fiction editors)
• Research tools for crime and thriller writers (blog post)
• Consulting Cops
• The Art of Firearms in Fiction is a free 45-page primer featuring Steve Allen, a soldier-turned-editor who specializes in military particulars, with additional material from Aden Nichols, an editor and Special Forces veteran.

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast’s Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Louise and Denise talk about 18 blogs for authors and editors that offer guidance on various aspects of writing craft.

Listen to find out more about:

1. ALLi blog: Alliance of Independent Authors
2. Ann Handley blog
3. Articles: The Writer’s Digest
4. Articles: Tim Storm, Storm Writing School
5. Bacon Editing blog: Claire Bacon
6. Bookbaby blog
7. Lisa Poisso, Editor and Book Coach blog: Lisa Poisso
8. Denise Cowle Editorial Services blog: Denise Cowle
9. Helping Writers become Authors: KM Weiland
10. Jane Friedman blog
11. LibroEditing blog: Liz Dexter
12. Liminal Pages blog: Sophie Playle, Fiction Editor
13. The Creative Penn blog: Joanna Penn
14. The Editor’s Blog: Beth Hill
15. The Itch of Writing: Emma Darwin
16. The Editing Blog: Louise Harnby, Fiction Editor
17. The Radical Copyeditor blog: Alex Kapitan
18. The Subversive Copyeditor blog: Carol Saller

Editing Bites

• Cult Pens
• Stein on Writing, by Sol Stein, Non Basic Stock Line, 2007

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

In this episode of The Editing Podcast, Denise and Louise answer questions about how to run and grow an editing and proofreading business.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• Increasing organic lead generation
• Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) and the impact on freelancers in California
• The benefits of working with publishers, packagers and project-management agencies
• Content marketing: Solving clients problems
• Facebook marketing: Ads, chatbots and website pixels
• Google ads and sourcing professional expertise
• Managing impostor syndrome
• Attracting indie genre-fiction authors: content marketing and branding
• Getting work with publishers
• Ethical promotion to a primed audience
• Technical writing and copy-writing
• Choosing a business name
• Building an editorial business on a tight budget
• Using career expertise as a foundation for an editing specialism
• Choosing the right training course
• Building a marketing strategy
• Starting an editing business when we care for young children
• Scaling a business: Passive income streams, price increases, training, and premium services
• Researching markets and audiences
• Making a website visible

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise answer questions about how to run and grow an editing and proofreading business.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• When editorial projects don't arrive with us on time ... how to manage it and how to prevent it
• Dealing with burnout and procrastination
• How to get fiction work with indie authors
• Making time for marketing
• Increasing efficiency
• Contracts, and whether email is sufficient
• What to tell publishers when we're asking to be placed on their freelance lists
• How to link up with other editors
• Billing in different currencies
• What to include on an invoice
• Starting an editing business, and the best order for tackling branding, website creation, social media networking, marketing, and investing in productivity tools

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise chat with book coach and editor Lisa Poisso about honing story craft before embarking on expensive structural and line editing.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• Story basics - the Plot Accelerator 
• Why developmental/structural editing comes after book coaching
• Genre, viewpoint, tense, character motivation and conflict, plot and subplot, and character arc
• Book mapping, and avoiding drinking and thinking!
• Super critiques on steroids: making a story solid
• The dynamics of book coaching
• Most common problems authors face
• Super-critiques

Contacting Lisa Poisso

• Email: [email protected]
• Website
• Blog
• Newsletter: The Writes of Fiction
• Scene Accelerator coaching
• Get added to the Scene Accelerator coaching waitlist: [email protected]

Editing Bites

• Moniack Mhor, Creative Writing Centre, Scotland
• Start writing fiction: Free Open University course

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Louise and Denise talk to technical writer and editor John Espirian about content marketing, editing and bringing a book to market.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• Content DNA - the book
• Developing the book's concept: The shape of you
• Writing the book
• Tackling the editing process
• Cover design and branding
• The benefits of a foreword
• Content marketing, and why it works
• Social media focus and email-list building
• Pricing, marketing and sales
• Creating an audio book
• Finding an audience to use as a springboard for business books
• Building a personal brand that acts as a buffer
• Targeting clients' problems and offering solutions
• What is technical writing?
• Who uses technical writers?

Contacting john Espirian

• Website
• Content DNA
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Blog

Editing Bites And Other Resources

• AgentQuery.com
• The Tao of Twitter, by Mark Schaefer
• KNOWN, by Mark Schaefer
• Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)
• Col Gray, graphic design and brand design: pixels ink; YouTube

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise discuss how to use exclamation marks.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• What exclamation marks look like
• Functions: Surprise, emphasis, volume
• How many to use
• Social media use
• Reasons to omit them: web, business academic copy
• Balancing use and abuse

Editing bites

• How to Fix Your Damn Book, by James Osiris Baldwin, CreateSpace, 2016
• Purdue OWL https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise discuss the grammar police, how to manage them, and why they're nothing to do with professional editing.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• Who are the grammar police?
• Social media and the grammar police
• Pedantry versus professional editing for style, preference and flow
• Writing style: Business, academia, web copy, creative non-fiction, fiction
• Conventions and standards versus rules and errors
• How and when to tell a writer about an error
• Dealing with the grammar police

Editing Bites

• Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus
• TextExpander

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise talk with guest Sea Chapman about constructed languages, or conlangs.

Listen to find out more about:

• What is a constructed language, or conlang?
• The different types of conlang
• Tips for writers who want to include conlangs in fiction
• The rules of play
• Base languages sometimes and conlang creation

Resources mentioned in the show

• Email Sea Chapman ([email protected]) for handouts from her ACES 2018 presentation, ‘Conlangs: Languages with Stories to Tell’ or to request additional resources
• Language Creation Society
• Conlangs on Reddit
• Constructed Languages on Facebook
• ConWorkShop forum
• Conlangery podcast
• Iain Banks talks writing, world events and Mastermind (video)
• ‘A few notes on Marain by Iain M. Banks’
• Fabulosa!: The Story of Polari, Britain's Secret Gay Language
• ‘What’s Polari?’

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise discuss em dashes, or em rules, and how to use them in fiction and non-fiction writing.

Listen to find out more about:

• Parenthetical use
• Indicating a new speaker
• Indicating omission
• Profanity
• Showing faltering speech
• Conveying end-of-line interruptions

Editing bites

• The Magic of Fiction, Beth Hill
• ‘Start here: How to self-publish your book’, Jane Friedman

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise explain what a comma splice is, why you should usually avoid it, and how it can add clarity.

Listen to find out more about:

• What a comma splice is
• Commas, lists and why splices confuse readers
• When editing out comma splices would spoil rhythm
• Anaphora

Editing bites

• The Emotional Craft of Fiction, Donald Maass
• The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, 3rd ed., David Crystal

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise discuss en dashes, or en rules, and how to use them in fiction and non-fiction writing.

Listen to find out more about:

• Parenthetical use
• Indicating number spans
• Placement in dialogue interrupted by narrative description
• Linking in adjectival compounds
• Showing faltering speech
• Indicating a relationship/alternative
• Profanity

Editing bites

• Masterclass
• The Conscious Style Guide

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise chat with editor Sophie Playle about developmental editing and critiques for fiction authors.

Listen to find out more about:

• An overview of what developmental editing includes
• Critiques as big-picture evaluation
• Who benefits from developmental editing and critiques
• Where developmental editing and critiques fit into the editing process
• Whether an author needs to hire a specialist editor for developmental editing
• Writing coaching versus developmental editing
• The difference between story and plot
• Story structure – planning versus revision
• Story structure – conscious deviation from traditional three-act structure
• Story structure – momentum
• Narrative style
• Subplots – when they work and
• How theme can hold a story together

More about Sophie Playle

• Sophie Playle, Liminal Pages
• Sophie’s editing courses
• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @sophieplayle
• Facebook: facebook.com/liminalpages
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sophieplayle

Resources mentioned in the Show

• ‘How to Write a Query Letter – Everything You Need to Know’, Sophie Playle
• ‘How to Write a Synopsis – Everything You Need to Know’, Sophie Playle
• Write a Great Synopsis: Nicola Morgan
• Developmental Editing: A Handbook for Freelancers, Authors and Publishers: Scott Norton
• Poetics, Aristotle
• Masterclass: David Mamet Teaches Dramatic Writing

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Denise and Louise demystify (and stand up for) one of the most misunderstood pieces of punctuation – the semi-colon.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• What the semi-colon looks like
• Separating two independent clauses
• Subjects and predicates
• Weighting and parallelism
• Comma splices
• Separating items in a list
• Emojis
• Objections to the semi-colon

Resources related to the show

• National Centre for Writing’s podcast
• Semicolon: How a misunderstood punctuation mark can improve your writing, enrich your reading and even change your life, by Cecilia Watson

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise chat with guest Tim Storm about the concept of unearned writing, and how to craft prose that's authentic and plausible.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• The writer’s responsibility to the reader and the story
• Story events and character reactions in relation to plausibility and authenticity
• Salvation events
• Unnatural character realizations
• Contrived plot turns
• Thematic insertions or digressions
• Turning unearned writing into earned prose
• Idea flow in non-fiction

Resources related to the show

• Title Case Converter
• The Allusionist podcast
• Storm Writing School
• Free course from Tim: The Gold Standard Scene: Analyses of Near-Perfect Scenes in Prose Fiction
• Storm Writing School on Twitter
• Storm Writing School on Facebook
• Storm Writing School on Pinterest

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise chat about 4 features of written language that are often thought to be Americanisms but aren’t. 

Listen To Find Out More About:

• -iz- spellings
• serial commas
• em dashes
• which/that in restrictive relative clauses

Mentioned In The Show

• Lexico/Oxford: ‘The Differences Between British and American Terms’
• Lynne Murphy on British and American English (video)
• Free PDF booklet: Verbs ending in -ize, -ise, -yze and -yse

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

Denise Cowle Editorial Services

Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise talk with linguist Rob Drummond about grammar pedantry, peevery, youth language, and non-standard language in context.

Listen To Find Out More About:

• Correct or conventional – a linguist’s perspective
• Better versus standard
• Zombie rules, and what we can ditch
• Youth language – dumbing down English or enriching it?
• Young people's language in relation to identity and language change
• Varieties of English in written communication: globalization, national and cultural identities
• The internet’s impact on pedantry and peevery
• The relationship between knowledge and pedantry
• The difference between preferences and judgements
• Recognizing our own pedantry and respecting contextually appropriate style
• Stepping outside our linguistic comfort zones

Mentioned In The Show

• Radical Copyeditor blog
• 'The Business of Being a Writer, with Jane Friedman’
• Rob Drummond Linguistics
• TED Talk: John McWhorter: Txtng is killing language. JK!!!
• Rob's graph: Linguistic knowledge versus linguistic pedantry

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise talk about how to use question marks in fiction and non-fiction according to convention.

Listen To Find Out More About:

1. Direct questions
2. Indirect questions
3. How-to statements
4. Idiomatic phrases and question marks
5. Double punctuation
6. Uncertain dates and date ranges
7. Indicating uncertainty

Mentioned In The Show

• But Can I Start A Sentence With “But”? by Carol Saller
• Making a Point: The Pernickety Story of English Punctuation by David Crystal

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Denise and Louise talk about 10 things writers need to tell an editor when they get in touch for the first time to discuss a project.

Listen to find out more about:

1. Word count
2. File format
3. Genre or subject
4. Other rounds of editing
5. The type of editing required
6. Intended audience and where you’re publishing
7. Time frame
8. What else you’ve written
9. Whether you can send a sample
10. How you found your editor

Mentioned in the show

• The Editing Podcast, Point of view: On editing erotica. With editor Maya Berger
• The Editing Podcast, S1E1: The different levels of editing
• The Editing Podcast, S1E6: What is a sample edit?
• The Editing Podcast, S2E9: Writing and editing for the web. With Erin Brenner

The links above take you to The Editing Podcast website but you can catch up with any of the episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podchaser, or your preferred app.

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Denise and Louise talk to Jenny Slater, an in-house editor with Newgen Publishing UK. Newgen is a project management agency offering editing, proofreading, typesetting and indexing for publishers.

Note: Denise and Louise have no affiliation with this organization. Newgen exhibited at the 2019 SfEP conference at Aston University, and it was the perfect opportunity to find out more about how they operate!

Listen to find out more about:

• About Out of House Publishing and the Newgen family
• The Newgen freelance database
• Assessing freelance editors and proofreaders
• Team specialisms and continuity: academic and education
• Matching editor subject experience with book projects
• How the sample tests are evaluated according to publishing standards
• The feedback process
• House styles

Mentioned in the show:

• How to apply for freelance editing and proofreading work with Newgen: https://newgenpublishing.co.uk/work-with-us/

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise talk to Laura Poole, a professional copyeditor who specializes in working with university presses on scholarly non-fiction, mainly in the humanities. Laura discusses the importance of fact checking.

Listen to find out more about:

• What a copyediting service includes
• When fact checking takes place in the editorial process
• Fiction: place names, historical accuracy, idiom, dates, etymology
• Non-fiction: people names, obscure terms, place names, dates, protecting author reputation
• Differences between spot checking and fact checking
• Fact checking for consistency across series
• Print versus digital: preventing reputational damage in the long term
• Tools for fact checking
• Who’s responsible for fact checking?
• Effective and sensitive querying of facts in non-fiction
• Artistic licence with facts in fiction

Mentioned in the show:

• Laura Poole, Archer Editorial: https://www.sfep.org.uk/directory/laura-poole and https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapoole/
• Tool: Internet Movie Database (IMDb): https://www.imdb.com/
• Tool: The Historical Thesaurus of English: https://ht.ac.uk/
• Tool: Google Ngram Viewer: https://books.google.com/ngrams
• Tool: CIA – The World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
• Tool: The New Food Lover's Companion (Barron's Cooking Guide)
• Tool: The Art of Firearms in Fiction: https://www.louiseharnbyproofreader.com/the-art-of-firearms-in-fiction.html

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise talk to Maya Berger, a professional editor who works with Young Adult and children’s fiction, speculative and science fiction, and romance and adult fiction. In this episode, we focus on writing and editing erotica.

Listen to find out more about:

• Why authors shouldn’t fear approaching an editor
• Why erotica deserves the same editorial rigour as any other genre
• The rise of romance and erotica in mainstream publishing
• How to find an editor who specializes in erotic fiction
• Subgenres and the benefits of specialist editing: LGBTQ, kink and taboo (BDSM and powerplay dynamics)
• Sensitivity reading: representing voice and identity

Mentioned in the show:

• Maya Berger: What I Mean To Say: https://www.whatimeantosay.com/
• Maya Berger (SfEP): https://www.sfep.org.uk/directory/what-i-mean-to-say-clear-and-professional-copy-editing-and-proofreading
• SfEP Directory of Editorial Services: https://www.sfep.org.uk/directory
• Finding an editor (blog): https://www.louiseharnbyproofreader.com/blog/how-do-i-find-a-proofreader-copyeditor-or-developmental-editor
• Finding an editor (podcast): The Editing Podcast, S1E10, How to Find an Editor

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise talk to Beth Hamer, a professional proofreader and the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading's conference director. Beth chats about how to organize a successful editorial conference.

Listen to find out more about:

• Responding to feedback
• Refining the delegate experience 
• Benefits of attending the annual SfEP conference
• Choosing a venue
• Choosing speakers 
• Programming sessions

Mentioned in the show:

• Beth Hamer Freelance Proofreader: http://beth-hamer.co.uk/
• Society for Editors and Proofreaders: https://www.sfep.org.uk
• SfEP annual conference: https://www.sfep.org.uk/networking/conferences/
• SfEP 2019 speaker: Chris Brookmyre – crime/thriller author, speaker: https://www.brookmyre.co.uk/
• SfEP 2019 speaker: Rob Drummond – linguist, writer, lecturer: https://www.robdrummond.co.uk/
• SfEP 2019 speaker: David Crystal – linguist, writer, editor, lecturer and broadcaster: http://www.davidcrystal.com/

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor and Proofreader (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise discuss how to use quote marks (or speech marks) in writing ... and when not to use them. 

Summary of the Show

• What are quote marks for?
• Should I use straight or curly quote marks?
• Should I use single or double quote marks?
• Where does the closing quote mark go in relation to other punctuation?​
• When not to use quote marks

Editing Bites

• ‘How to punctuate dialogue in a novel’: (blog) http://bit.ly/2vYflIf
• ‘How to punctuate dialogue in a novel’: (video playlist): http://bit.ly/2ZzUCXG
• ‘Worry-free Writing: how to use quote marks’: http://bit.ly/2ZyTzag

Other Resources

• Chicago Manual of Style
• Penguin Guide to Punctuation
• New Hart’s Rules

Ask Us a Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button: http://bit.ly/EditPodFB

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services: bit.ly/CowleEditing
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor: bit.ly/HarnbyEditing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Louise and Denise discuss writing and editing for the web with guest Erin Brenner.

Listen to find out more about:

• Why working with web content is different from writing for the page
• In which programs should we create content for the web?
• Pre-upload checks on the writing
• Pre-upload checks on metadata links, and alt-text
• Quality control: self-editing versus third-party professional help
• How many editing passes?
• Fact-checking and authenticity
• The order of play for editing web content
• Style sheets and web content
• Language choice and style for web content

Editing Bites

• Erin Brenner’s Web Style Checklist: http://bit.ly/2ZtVRaK
• They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan

Other Resources

• Erin Brenner, Right Touch Editing: http://bit.ly/2T1XCtH
• ‘Customer service: A cautionary tale of red flags and safety nets’ by Vanessa Plaister on the SfEP blog: http://bit.ly/2GJLiJC
• The AP Stylebook (Associated Press): http://bit.ly/2T0Ktkv

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button: http://bit.ly/EditPodFB

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services: bit.ly/CowleEditing
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor: bit.ly/HarnbyEditing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise talk to Jen Hamilton-Emery, co-director of Salt, one of the UK's premier independent literary publishers.

Listen more to find out about:

• The Salt story: awards, authors and publishing goals
• Author retention
• Indie publishing and the digital revolution
• The submission process
• The author–publisher relationship
• The publishing process
• Rights, sales and royalties
• Print runs
• Resources for authors

Find out more

Visit the Salt website: https://www.saltpublishing.com/

Editing bites

• Typographic Style Handbook: A Guide to Typography by Michael Mitchell and Susan Wightman
• Understanding Show, Don’t Tell by Janice Hardy

Other resources

• Society for Editors and Proofreaders: bit.ly/32JJDx7
• The Publishing Training Centre: bit.ly/32Nq6f6

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button: bit.ly/EditPodFB

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services: bit.ly/CowleEditing
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor: bit.ly/HarnbyEditing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise discuss how to manage the transition from one editor to another. Listen more to find out about:

• Why authors change editors
• Planning ahead and giving notice
• Whether the editor should get involved in sourcing a replacement
• Checking T&Cs and cancellation policies
• Information and tools to share with the new editor

Editing Bites

• The NCW Podcast (National Centre for Writing): http://bit.ly/31wXlms
• Oxford Dictionary of English Idiom
• Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms

Other Resources

• The different levels of editing (booklet): http://bit.ly/31AjKzt
• The Editing Podcast, S1E1: The different levels of editing
• The Editing Podcast, S1E10: How to find an editor
• The Editing Podcast, S1E7: Style sheets for writing and editing

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button: http://bit.ly/EditPodFB

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services: bit.ly/CowleEditing
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor: bit.ly/HarnbyEditing

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise offer some quick tips on formatting your Word file ... final tidy-ups to get your file in shape, and that accord with mainstream publishing standards. And there's a free PDF that includes all the search strings we talk about!

Editing bites

• Wildcard Cookbook for Microsoft Word: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2KFh39H. Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2KJrVDi
• Word Tips: https://wordribbon.tips.net/index.html

Other resources

• FREE PDF: '15 Word Formatting Tips: Find and Replace, Wildcards and the Ribbon': http://bit.ly/2XmHyHN
• TUTORIAL: 'Formatting your book in Word: How to save time with the Styles tool': http://bit.ly/2XHkKCx

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button: http://bit.ly/EditPodFB

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services: bit.ly/CowleEditing
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor: bit.ly/HarnbyEditing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise talk about 10 editing macros that will save you time and improve the quality of your writing.

Listen to find out more about:

• Macros how they work in Word
• CatchPhrase
• CitationLister and CitationListChecker
• CompareWordList
• File Cleaner
• FullPointInDialogue and CommaInDialogue
• MultiSwitch
• PerfectIt
• ProperNounAlyse
• SpellingErrorLister
• VisibleTrack

Editing bites

• ‘Advanced Find and Replace for Microsoft Word’: Available from Jack Lyon at http://www.editorium.com/freebies.htm
• ‘20-Minute Macro Course’: Available from Tech Tools for Writers at http://www.techtoolsforwriters.com/macro-course/

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button: http://bit.ly/EditPodFB

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services: bit.ly/CowleEditing
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor: bit.ly/HarnbyEditing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise talk about adverbs, and how to use or remove them purposefully.

Listen to find out more about:

• What Stephen King said about adverbs
• Adverb use versus adverb abuse
• Definition of an adverb with examples
• Definition of an adverbial phrase with examples
• Adverb red flag #1: the double tell in narrative
• Adverb red flag #2: the double tell in dialogue
• Adverb red flag #3: the double tell in dialogue tags
• Fixes: using stronger verbs and strengthening dialogue
• Why adverbial phrases don’t solve the problem
• Extent of overuse

Editing bites

• How to Write Dazzling Dialogue by James Scott Bell
• Oxford Guide to Plain English by Martin Cutts

Other resources

• Stephen King on Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button: http://bit.ly/EditPodFB

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services: bit.ly/CowleEditing
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor: bit.ly/HarnbyEditing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise talk with Daniel Heuman, founder of Intelligent Editing and developer of PerfectIt – consistency-checking and style-enforcing software for editors and writers.

Listen to find out more about:

• What PerfectIt does
• Who uses PerfectIt
• What’s new with PerfectIt 4
• Using the onboard styles
• The PerfectIt 4 interface
• How to access PerfectIt on PC and Mac
• How much a subscription costs and what’s included
• Where to download PerfectIt

Find out more about PerfectIt at https://intelligentediting.com/

Ask Us A Question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button: http://bit.ly/EditPodFB

Denise And Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services: bit.ly/CowleEditing
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor: bit.ly/HarnbyEditing

Music Credit

'Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise discuss four different kinds of writers and how identifying what kind you are can help you work out the kind of editing that’s the best fit for you.

Listen to find out more about:

• The confident writer
• The nervous writer
• The reluctant writer
• The impatient writer

Editing bites

• ‘How to proofread your own writing – 10 tips to clean up your writing’: http://bit.ly/2ZtmpJ9
• ‘Is proofreading enough? How does your reader dance?’: http://bit.ly/2ZrKCQb

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button: http://bit.ly/EditPodFB

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services: bit.ly/CowleEditing
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor: bit.ly/HarnbyEditing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise discuss how to prepare your book file for editing ... whether you're doing it yourself or working with an editor.

Listen to find out more about:

• When to do interior layout
• Where to do your editing
• Whether to edit in a single document or multiples
• Using styles
• Font choice
• Colour choice
• Paragraph design
• Spacing
• Defining headings
• Page numbering
• Section breaks
• Pictures and images
• Tables of contents
• Indexing

Editing bites

• Editing in Word, 2nd Edition, by Adrienne Montgomerie: http://bit.ly/2Xy3CPs
• How to Market a Book, by Joanna Penn

Other resources

• Review of Montgomerie’s Editing in Word, 2nd ed. by Louise Harnby (blog post): http://bit.ly/2XrlDza
• How to use styles (video tutorial): https://youtu.be/1IRBqPm7LBk
• How to use styles (blog post): http://bit.ly/2XHkKCx
• PerfectIt: https://intelligentediting.com/
• The Author’s Proofreading Companion (booklet containing raw-text tidy-up tips): http://bit.ly/ProofCompanion
• Proofreading checklist (PDF): http://bit.ly/CheckProof

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button: http://bit.ly/EditPodFB

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services: bit.ly/CowleEditing
• Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor: bit.ly/HarnbyEditing

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise discuss how long it takes to complete an edit – whether you’re doing it yourself or working with a professional – and how to plan ahead.

Listen to find out more about editing time in relation to:

• Word count
• Project complexity
• Level of editing undertaken, including referencing, style-guide adherence and fact-checking
• Publishing imperfect written content
• Working with agents
• Collectives and agencies: fast turnaround, high quality
• The length of the editing day
• Scheduling editing in advance, and allowing time to deal with queries

Editing bites

• Self Publishing Journeys (podcast hosted by Paul Teague)
• ELT Teacher 2 Writer

Plus:

• Writing for business. When is good enough, enough?

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this episode of The Editing Podcast, Denise and Louise discuss location and whether where your editor lives actually matters.

Listen to find out more about location in relation to:

• Local, regional and national knowledge
• Face-to-face meetings
• University policies
• Spelling, idiomatic and dialectical variance
• Pronunciation problems
• Communicating with global audiences
• Refining searches for editors
• Financial transactions
• The type of editing being carried out
• Times-zone advantages

Editing bites

• Oxford Dictionaries Online
• Urban Dictionary

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music Credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Denise and Louise attended the 2019 ATOMICON digital marketing conference. During one of the breaks, they recorded a chat about book editing and marketing, accompanied by pink pineapples and women on stilts!

Listen to find out more about:

• Why editors and authors should attend marketing conferences
• Stepping outside your comfort zone and learning new skills
• Branding, using audio and video to grow your business
• Overcoming marketing nerves
• Editors who become writers
• An editor's view on being edited
• Giving mindful, constructive feedback that makes editing enriching
• Learning best practice

Other resources

• ATOMICON digital marketing conference (hosted by Andrew and Pete)
• Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP)

Ask us a question

The easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the SEND MESSAGE button.

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this episode of The Editing Podcast, Denise and Louise discuss how to find an editor if you decide you want professional help.

Listen to find out more about:

• National editorial societies
• Google and other search engines
• Writing networks
• Social media
• Refining your search by subject/genre specialism: editor portfolios
• Refining with sample edits
• Refining with testimonials

Editing bites

• Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook
• Alliance for Independent Authors (ALLi)

Other resources

• SfEP Directory of Editorial Services
• ALLi roundtable: Louise, Denise & co on editing
• ALLi roundtable: Louise, Denise & co on editing for profit

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this bonus episode of The Editing Podcast, Denise and Louise talk to Kenda Macdonald, a behavioural marketing specialist and CEO of Automation Ninjas. She is also the author of Hack the Buyer Brain.

Summary

• Indie publishing
• Finding and working with an editor
• Respecting and retaining author voice
• The importance of author/editor trust
• Working with beta readers
• Using negative feedback to write better
• Framing editorial feedback respectfully
• Author tip: Building a support network

Talk to Kenda

• Automation Ninjas: https://www.automationninjas.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AutomatioNinjas
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutomationNinjas
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/automationninjas/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGDpDbxVicFhpbOZhSsykSw/
• Hack the Buyer Brain: https://www.automationninjas.com/hack-the-buyer-brain/

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this bonus episode of The Editing Podcast, Denise and Louise talk to Tim Lewis, host of the Begin Self-Publishing Podcast and author of tree time-travel novellas (Timeshock series), three fantasy novels (Magpies and Magic series), and Social Media Networking.

Summary

• Benefits and challenges of working with a professional editor who’s also a family member
• Trust and personal relationships
• Constructive criticism and the author/editor relationship: Best vs best-fit relationships
• Marketing tips: Social media; sales versus visibility; tagging and quoting
• The culture of free and its impact on book sales
• Building an author platform and understanding your social media audience
• Podcasting for indie authors
• Using your book as a marketing tool to grow your business
• Structural outlining: Planning versus pantsing
• Author tip: Starting with a shorter project to learn the basics of self-publishing and hone your craft

Talk to Tim

• Begin Self-Publishing Podcast: https://beginselfpublishing.com/
• Stoneham Press: https://stonehampress.com/
• Twitter: @StonehamPress
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BSPPodcast/
• YouTube: http://bit.ly/2TxQZml
• Social Media Networking: How to Use Social Media to Get the Job You Want, Find Love, Get Business Success and Boost Your Travel Experience: https://amzn.to/2TyfmjZ

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

In this bonus episode of The Editing Podcast, Denise and Louise talk to Kia Thomas, a fiction editor and the author of Wings.

Summary

• Indie publishing
• Choosing what level of editing to do yourself and what to get help with, based on skills
• Getting feedback: Identifying whether the story works
• The challenges of self-editing: Length of book, writer tics and repetition
• Trading favours with other professionals to save money
• Free-flow writing prior to revision: Planning versus pantsing
• Finding the time and mindset for writing
• The experience of being edited: Trust, anxiety and retaining voice
• Understanding and communicating expectations
• Author tip: Getting fresh eyes on your work

Talk to Kia

• Kia Thomas Editing: https://kiathomasediting.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/KiaThomasEdits
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kiathomasediting/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kia-thomas-editing/
• Wings: https://amzn.to/2TyHdRb

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this bonus episode of The Editing Podcast, Denise and Louise talk to Simon Raybould, a presentations trainer and the author of Presentation Genius.

Summary

• Mainstream and indie publishing (PDF and print on demand)
• Benefits and challenges of working with a mainstream publisher: Transaction vs growth orientation; positioning; formatting
• The writing process
• Working with editors: Using family and professionals
• The author/editor relationship: Respecting voice; understanding and integrating business knowledge; good-fit relationships
• Editing across content to ensure brand consistency
• Author tip: Writing-objective reminders

Talk to Simon

• Presentation Genius: http://presentationgenius.info
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/presentations
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/presentationgenius
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/presentationgeniusinfo
• Presentation Genius: 40 Insights from the Science of Presenting: https://amzn.to/2Tz9GGf

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this bonus episode of The Editing Podcast, Denise and Louise talk to Antoinette Oglethorpe, a leadership development and career management specialist, and the author of Grow Your Geeks.

Summary

• Hybrid publishing with a publishing partner: Rethink Press
• Using beta readers prior to revision
• Overcoming anxiety regarding editorial feedback
• The role of the editor: Support, improvement and collaboration
• Writing your second book: Maintaining momentum
• Book marketing tips: repurposing, reverse-engineered marketing and business growth

Talk to Antoinette

• Antoinette Oglethorpe: https://www.antoinetteoglethorpe.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/antoinetteog
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AntoinetteOglethorpe/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinetteoglethorpe/
• Grow Your Geeks: A Handbook for Developing Leaders in High-Tech Organisations: https://amzn.to/2TtOHVk

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this episode of The Editing Podcast, Denise and Louise discuss the order of play for the different levels of editing, and some ideas about how you can keep costs down.

Listen to find out more about:

• The different levels of editing
• The order of play – when to do what
• Who else can help – beyond the pro editor
• Planning ahead
• Getting comparative quotations for the job
• Honing story craft
• Manuscript critiques or evaluations
• Learning through example – commissioning mini edits
• Word’s onboard tools, macros and add-ins
• Style sheets

Editing bites

• PerfectIt (consistency-checking software)
• Proofreading checklist (free PDF booklet)
• Ask A Book Editor (Facebook group)

Other resources

• A nifty little proofreading and editing macro: ProperNounAlyse (blog post)
• CompareWordList macro
• Creating your own style sheet (scroll to bottom of blog post)
• Free downloadable style-sheet template (scroll to bottom of blog post)
• How do I find spelling inconsistencies when proofreading and editing? TextSTAT (blog post)
• How Not to Write a Novel (Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman)
• Self-editing your fiction in Word: How to use styles (video tutorial)

In this episode of The Editing Podcast, Denise and Louise discuss page proofs and how they fit into the editing process.

Listen to find out more about:

• Tangled terminology and how proofreading means different things to different writers and editors
• Designed page proofs vs raw-text files
• Defining page proofs
• Where proofreading and page proofs fit into mainstream publishing industry’s production process
• What to look out for at proofreading stage
• Knock-on effects that could damage designed page proofs
• The benefits of professional interior formatting

Editing bites and other resources

• The Penguin Guide to Punctuation (RL Trask)
• Quick and Dirty Tips (online hub hosted by Grammar Girl, aka Mignon Fogarty)

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this episode of The Editing Podcast, Denise and Louise talk about style sheets, and how they’ll help you keep track of the key themes in your book, and ensure consistency along the way.

Listen to find out more about:

• Style sheets – what they are and why they’re useful
• What to include in your style sheet
• Which types of written content benefit from a style sheet
• Style sheets for authors and editors
• Two industry-recognized style guides

Editing bites

• Course: Editing with Style Sheets
• Blog: Creating your own style sheet

Denise and Louise

• Denise Cowle Editorial Services (non-fiction)
• Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor (fiction)

Music credit

‘Vivacity’ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/